“On MLK Jr. Day it’s a day on, not a day off,” said Jada Drew, interim Africana community coordinator and Guilford alum. Because of its Quaker heritage, Guilford College only has two holidays off aside from Christmas and Thanksgiving: Memorial Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. According to Drew, the school has had the holiday off for at least the past six years, but this year, the Career and Community Learning Center and Multicultural Education department devoted two weeks to commemorate King through a variety of activities.

The student turnout for the events in past years has been sub-par, according to Drew, and some members of the committee worry that the holiday has become more centered around a day off, rather than a day to appreciate and engage.

“People in communities across the nation come together to do service work; that’s what it’s going to take to make a change, is for everyone to come together, not just black or white,” said Drew. “Since we get the day off professors should help send students to events as credit for class, or something so more people get involved.”

James Shields, director of Community Learning, shares Drew’s view that there are not enough students involved and stresses the holiday’s potential for unity.

“I hope people understand that MLK Jr.Day is not a Black holiday, it’s a day for all of us; if we can’t all come together this day when can we? I would almost rather see us have classes on Monday and do teach-ins instead,” Shields said.

With the inauguration of President Barack Obama following MLK Jr. Day, Obama’s team attempted to rally the spirit of service by sending out text messages and creating a Facebook group to involve young people.

“Being a day before the inauguration of Barack Obama makes this day more important, at some point we all have to come together,” Shields said.

The “day on” saying applies to the zeitgeist of the Civil Rights movement.

However, some find that students do not truly understand the importance of this holiday and its roots.

“It is upsetting that people scatter because we have the day off, nobody thinks of what this day means,” Elizabeth Bailof-Bird, Bonner Scholar Program coordinator, said when discussing how the Civil Rights Movement affected her. Bird grew up listening to her mother’s stories about the movement that led to her family disowning her for her involvement.

Both the holiday’s history and current endeavors inspire staff and students.

“I think it is important to have a holiday such as this not just to reflect on the legacy but also look to the future to see what we could be,” Shields said. On Jan. 21, a students presented examples of their activism in Boren Lounge and on Jan. 22 a community forum entitled “Activism: Then & Now” was held in Sternberger Auditorium.

On Jan. 19, the organizing committee brought in a panel and special guests to educate Guilford as well as other community members about diversity and unity.

“I thought the event was good,” said senior Morgan Kerr. “It’s great that they are teaching kids about multiculturalism.”

At the end of next week, look for more coverage on Guilfordian.com regarding the events in honor of King.